Kodak to sue over Apple and Blackberry

What have Kodak got against fruit? They're not happy with Apple and they're not happy with the folks who make Blackberries.

When you've stopped laughing yourself into a state of weeping open sores, I'll confirm that Kodak are not in fact angry about two of your five-a-day, but rather, the iPhone (made by Apple) and the Blackberry (made by Research In Motion/RIM).

Yep, snappers Kodak are going to sue both companies over technology used in the handsets. They reckon that both gizmos use technology for previewing pictures that infringe Kodak patents.

They've also filed two separate suits against Apple claiming that there's infringements of patents relating to digital cameras and certain computer processes.

So what does this mean? Well, if Kodak get their way and the ITC uphold their complaint, both firms will be barred from shipping the phones until undisclosed monetary damages have been coughed up.

"We've had discussions for years with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue amicably, and we have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement," said Laura Quatela, chief intellectual property officer at Kodak.

"In light of that, we are taking this action to ensure that we protect the interests of our shareholders and the existing licensees of our technology."

This isn't the first time Kodak have pulled someone up on a patent. Last year, an ITC judge ruled in favour of Kodak after they claimed that camera-enabled phones made by Samsung infringed upon a patent. In another case, Sun Microsystems Java technology infringed Kodak's patents with a federal jury confirming the claim.

This will be a headache Apple could do without as they're currently in the middle of a legal spat with Nokia. Y'see, Nokia reckon that the iPhone has infringed 10 of its "fundamental" patents relating to wireless technologies with Apple hissing back and saying that Nokia had been copying their technology. Nokia took their ball and went home, making a further legal claim that alleges "virtually all" of Apple's products infringe on its patents.

After all this, you could be forgiven for thinking that the iPhone isn't a piece of innovation at all, but rather, the technological equivalent of some kid copying everyone else's homework and getting an A* for it.